AN EXCEPTIONAL TURKISH FLINTLOCK HORSEMAN'S BLUNDERBUSS OF THE BODYGUARD OF THE OTTOMAN SULTAN MAHMUD II

CIRCA 1810-20

AN EXCEPTIONAL TURKISH FLINTLOCK HORSEMAN'S BLUNDERBUSS OF THE BODYGUARD OF THE OTTOMAN SULTAN MAHMUD II
CIRCA 1810-20
With slender iron barrel strongly belled towards the muzzle, richly decorated over its full length with close-set complex patterns of silver flowers, garlands and interlaced scrollwork all encrusted on a contrasting brilliant blue ground, a raised brass moulding over the breech, and retained by a hinged gilt-brass band, burnished iron lock inscribed 'Ïondon Waranted' (sic.) and decorated with birds at the rear, with rainproof pan and roller, full stock entirely encased in gilt-brass panels, repoussé with flowers, rose bouquets and fluted scrolls all burnished bright on a contrasting pounced matted gilt ground, the barrel-band, trigger-guard and false ramrod all en suite, blued iron bar for the saddle-ring partly encrusted in silver, and in exceptionally fine original condition throughout
31¼in (79.4cm)

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Lot essay

Another example from this rare series of Ottoman firearms (of which the present example is the best preserved) is in The Wallace Collection, London (no.2086).

The treatment of the stock also compares with that of the Anglo/Ottoman Balkan gun known as 'the musket of Ali Pasha', presented by him to Lord Byron, circa 1809-1820. This gun is now in the Benaki Museum, Athens. See H. Bartlett Wells, Lord Byron's Joseph Manton Rifle?, J.A.A.S, vol. VI, no.1, March 1968.

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Special Notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium